Perth named as 'digital boom' capital in Google's eTown Awards

IT'S better known as one of the cities sharing Australia's mining boom, but Perth has now been named as the capital of the nation's digital boom.

The Western Australian capital earned top billing in Google's inaugural Australian "eTown Awards", which ranked 600 communities on their online business activities.

Australia's digital economy is worth as much as the nation's iron ore exports, and is forecast to grow by up to $70 billion over the next four years, according to business consultants Deloitte Access Economics.

The internet search giant says Perth led the city rankings ahead of Yarra in Victoria, Adelaide in South Australia and North Sydney and Ryde in NSW.

Byron Shire in NSW led the regional rankings ahead of Meander Valley in Tasmania, Cessnock and Wingecarribee shires in NSW, and the Scenic Rim region in Queensland.

"The web is transforming all businesses in Australia, not just those typically considered to be internet businesses," Google said in a statement.

Federal Small Business Minister Brendan O'Connor, who launched the awards in Perth on Thursday, said he hoped they would encourage other small businesses to get online.

"The digital economy is fuelling Australia's economic growth and it's important businesses of every size are well equipped to take advantage of the potential," he said.